Targeting Pathogenic Biofilms: Newly Developed Superhydrophobic Coating Favors a Host-Compatible Microbial Profile on the Titanium Surface

Author(s):Show less -

Souza, Joao G. S. ^[1] ; Bertolini, Martinna ^[2] ; Costa, Raphael C. ^[1] ; Cordeiro, Jairo M. ^[1] ; Nagay, Bruna E. ^[1] ; de Almeida, Amanda B. ^[1] ; Retamal-Valdes, Belen ^[3] ; Nociti, Francisco H. ^[1] ; Feres, Magda ^[3] ; Rangel, Elidiane C. ^[4] ; Barao, Valentim A. R. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Prosthodont & Periodontol, Piracicaba Dent Sch, BR-13414903 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Connecticut, Hlth Ctr, Dept Oral Hlth & Diagnost Sci, Farmington, CT 06030 - USA

^[3] Univ Guarulhos, Dent Res Div, BR-07023070 Guarulhos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Lab Technol Plasmas, Inst Sci & Technol, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES; v. 12, n. 9, p. 10118-10129, MAR 4 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

Polymicrobial infections are one of the most common reasons for inflammation of surrounding tissues and failure of implanted biomaterials. Because microorganism adhesion is the first step for biofilm formation, physical-chemical modifications of biomaterials have been proposed to reduce the initial microbial attachment. Thus, the use of superhydrophobic coatings has emerged because of their anti-biofilm properties. However, these coatings on the titanium (Ti) surface have been developed mainly by dual-step surface modification techniques and have not been tested using polymicrobial biofilms. Therefore, we developed a one-step superhydrophobic coating on the Ti surface by using a low-pressure plasma technology to create a biocompatible coating that reduces polymicrobial biofilm adhesion and formation. The superhydrophobic coating on Ti was created by the glow discharge plasma using Ar, O-2, and hexamethyldisiloxane gases, and after full physical, chemical, and biological characterizations, we evaluated its properties regarding oral biofilm inhibition. The newly developed coating presented an increased surface roughness and, consequently, superhydrophobicity (contact angle over 150 degrees) and enhanced corrosion resistance (p < 0.05) of the Ti surface. Furthermore, proteomic analysis showed a unique pattern of protein adsorption on the superhydrophobic coating without drastically changing the biologic processes mediated by proteins. Additionally, superhydrophobic treatment did not present a cytotoxic effect on fibroblasts or reduction of proliferation; however, it significantly reduced (approximate to 8-fold change) polymicrobial adhesion (bacterial and fungal) and biofilm formation in vitro. Interestingly, superhydrophobic coating shifted the microbiological profile of biofilms formed in situ in the oral cavity, reducing by up to approximate to 7 fold pathogens associated with the peri-implant disease. Thus, this new superhydrophobic coating developed by a one-step glow discharge plasma technique is a promising biocompatible strategy to drastically reduce microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on Ti-based biomedical implants. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/23118-2 - Antibacterial effect and biocompatibility evaluation of glow discharge plasma treatment on titanium surface: in vitro and in situ study
• Grantee: João Gabriel Silva Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/11470-6 - Magnetron sputtering deposition of tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) films onto titanium surface for biomedical applications: electrochemical behavior, biocompatibility and microbiologic analysis
• Grantee: Valentim Adelino Ricardo Barão
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants